A propagation station holds plant cuttings in water while they grow roots. You can buy one, but this version takes an afternoon and a few dollars of supplies: a pine board, some glass test tubes and copper wire bent into little holders. Techplant built it to replace a row of shot glasses, and the slim tubes do a better job of keeping cuttings upright.
How to make a propagation station: the short version
- Cut a 1 by 2 inch board to length and mark the tube spacing.
- Drill a 1 inch wide hole for each tube, three quarters of the way down.
- Bend copper wire into a ring with two prongs for each tube.
- Drill two small holes behind each big hole for the prongs.
- Trim the prongs, set the holders and tubes, add water and cuttings.
Choosing the board, tubes and wire
The board in the video is a true 1 inch thick and 2 inches wide. Check yours with a tape measure: a store-bought 1x2 is often only 3/4 inch thick, so drill the tube holes about 1/2 inch deep instead or the bit comes out the bottom. Pine is cheap and easy to drill. Oak or walnut looks richer if you want a gift. Buy the test tubes before you drill, since the hole has to match the tube's width. Tubes around 25mm wide by 150mm tall hold a good cutting. For the wire, pick bare copper thick enough to stand on its own, roughly 1/8 inch. Thin craft wire bends under the weight of a full tube.
How many tubes and how far apart
Five tubes on a 17 and a half inch board is a good size for a windowsill. Leave about 3 and a half inches between tube centers. Cuttings spread out wider than the tubes, and crowded leaves rub, tangle and rot. For a shorter shelf, three tubes on a 10 inch board works well.
Drilling safely
Clamp the board to your bench before you drill. A Forstner bit makes a clean, flat-bottomed hole, which helps the tube sit steady. Wrap tape around the bit as a depth stop so you do not drill through. If you do not own a drill, a local hardware store will often drill a few holes for you, or ask a handy friend.
What to propagate
Pothos, philodendron, tradescantia, coleus, mint and basil all root quickly in water. Take a cutting with at least one node, the little bump where a leaf meets the stem, and keep that node under water. Change the water every week. Bottled or filtered water is kindest on new roots.
Ways to finish and gift it
- Sand the edges and rub on a coat of beeswax or clear finish.
- Stain the board darker so the copper rings pop.
- Gift it with a cutting from your own plant already in a tube.
Common mistakes
- Gluing the tubes in. You need to lift them out to clean and refill.
- Rings too big. The tube lip must not slip through the ring.
- Uneven prongs. Mark and cut both prongs to the same height.
Hang your rooted cuttings in a macrame plant hanger, give them a home in a wooden planter box, or pot them up in aged terracotta pots. Air plants need no water at all and look great in a concrete air plant holder.
